It’s been said that SAP “runs the world”–and rightfully so. SAP Business One is a flexible, robust solution that addresses so many aspects of business process management that it has transformed the efficiency and productivity of companies of every size.

But when it comes to transacting with your partners, SAP (or any ERP software, for that matter) is only as efficient as the integrations used with it. If you can’t match your customers’ data requirements or transactions stall without your knowledge, you’re limited by a technology bottleneck that dampens sales, frustrates employees and compromises your relationships with your customers.

The good news is: there is a solution. Choose the right SAP integration software and you not only smooth your sales flow, you can boost productivity as well.

Save time

Data entry is a time-intensive process. Entire departments can become bogged down by the need to key and re-key the same data in separate systems. Integration eliminates multiple data entry passes and enables your staff to focus on the bigger picture instead of getting buried under piles of paperwork.

Look for SAP integration tools that cover the entire integration cycle, not a mere portion that still requires manual input. Doing so can eliminate hours of data entry by a clerk.

Reduce stalled sales

If your current integrations don’t match your customers’ requirements and you’re forced to employ a workaround, transactions can fall through the cracks. If your data fails to exchange properly with your customers and you’re not aware of it, unprocessed sales are simply sitting in place.

The right SAP Business One integration software will not only feature plenty of integrated documents that apply to your sales process, it will also issue automatic notifications to make you aware of transactions that have encountered a problem so you can address them right away.

Speed deployment of custom integrations

When hard-coding SAP Business One integration software from the ground up, custom integrations take weeks, if not months, to get up and running. Platform-based integration software dramatically reduces the amount of time it takes to implement a custom integration, because it only requires a few changes to configurations or settings, instead of an entirely new build.

The faster you can put effective SAP integration in place, the more quickly you can focus on sales, not managing custom integrations development.

Update integrated documents (almost) instantly

Much like the speed of custom integrations, platform-coded SAP integration software can provide you with updated integrated documents right away. Out-of-the-box integration software providers keep an eye on document updates so you don’t have to. You no longer need to chase each individual document as changes are released. Once a customers’ document is updated, your integration software provider will tweak your document to match. You can then put that document to work right away.

With platform-coded software, you’ll never need to worry about a disparity between the document you’re using and your customers’ more current versions.

SAP Business One leads the ERP software space because it’s a thoughtfully developed, powerful data management tool. If you’re still using a custom-coded integration solution, it could be taking a toll on your productivity. Your integration software should be able to match SAP’s level of flexibility and ongoing improvements. If that’s not the case, it might be time to reevaluate.

If you would like to know more about how the Alluvia platform can meet your SAP integration needs, contact us today.

Successful businesses are always searching for the holy grail: increased productivity at a decreased expense. With all the advancements in data capture, automated processes and lightning fast information exchange, it makes sense that ERP integration software should also keep pace.

When the switchover from manual processes to automated integration started to take place, custom coding of automated systems was the most efficient solution to enable faster, more accurate data exchange. However, like everything in business, evolution is unavoidable–and it should be embraced.

With this article, we’ll address some of the common misconceptions we hear when speaking to businesses about their SAP Business One integration software—many of which are based on outdated solutions. How many of these myths do you still believe?

Myth #1: Quality SAP Business One integration software requires custom coding

Just because it’s the way things have always been done doesn’t mean that it’s the way it should continue. Getting the right SAP Business One integration software previously required working with a software development company that took months to analyze your ERP and integration needs, code software from the ground up and test the software thoroughly in a development environment before you could pull the trigger on deployment. Months would pass before you could actually begin using your software.

These days, the more efficient integration software platforms are pre-configured to match the most commonly used ERP systems, including SAP Business One and SAP HANA. All of the testing and development has been done well before you receive the software so you don’t need to waste precious business hours or company resources on managing a software development project.

Myth #2: You’ll get locked into a contract

Many integration software companies still insist on contracts, but if you eschew the custom coded method and choose an out-of-the-box solution instead, you can cancel at any time.

Eliminating contracts and their accompanying early termination fees means you have the freedom to make business decisions without worrying about penalties. You’re not forced to throw good money after bad due to a heavy investment in a custom coded solution. We recommend looking for an SAP integration provider who does not require a long-term contract.

Myth #3: Document updates mean code changes

When you use a hard-coded solution for SAP Business One integration, document updates require changes to the core software. That means another round of developing and testing before deploying.

By using a plug-and-play integration solution, document updates are handled on the back-end and fully vetted and tested before they land in your system. Then you’re good to go. The updated document is immediately ready for use.

Myth #4: You get what you pay for

Too many business executives still subscribe to the myth that paying a lot means that you’re getting a better product. While that might hold true for certain services, advancement in data processing capabilities mean that if your SAP integration software is ultra-expensive, it’s probably because your integration software partner is still rooted in the past.

Look for a nimble software partner who is at the forefront of efficient software development and deployment. If you’re still paying the same high fees as 10 years ago, it’s time to reevaluate your provider.

Myth #5: Custom integrations take months to implement

Sometimes your business has very specific data capture and exchange requirements that must match your workflow precisely. When using a custom-built SAP integration solution, it takes months of development and testing before you can use a custom integration.

With today’s platform integration solutions, you simply outline your requirements and change settings and configurations without a developer’s involvement. This can dramatically shorten the time it takes to deploy your custom integration. You experience virtually no interruption to your sales workflow.

The bottom line is that if you still equate SAP Business One integration with expensive, time-consuming software development, you’re operating in the past. Reevaluate your integration needs and start comparing solutions that take advantage of today’s robust platform coding to streamline your processes and reduce your spend on integration software.

If you would like to know more about how the Alluvia platform can meet your SAP integration needs, contact us today.